Appeals Court Upholds Gary Wiley Murder Convictions

A state appeals court has upheld the first-degree murder and burglary convictions against a Linesville man in the deaths of a Linesville-area couple in their home in April, 2010.

Pennsylvania Superior Court this week refused to overturn the verdicts of guilty of murder and burglary against 41 year-old Gary Wiley in the deaths of 51 year-old Tod Prenatt and his wife, 44 year-old Laurie Prenatt, and in the burglary of a Linesville drug store eight days before the murders.

Prosecutors had claimed that Wiley had believed that the Prenatts had learned that he had been involved in the burglary, and that he killed the couple to silence them. Wiley was sentenced to life in prison for both of the murders, and to sentences of 1-to-10 years and 2-to-20 years on burglary counts. He was seeking a new trial.